Takeover News/Rumours

[Norwich Exile]

A change in coaching is inevitable, and this might require structural change all through the club, but especially in the relationship between the Academy, the under-23s and the first team and the way up that ladder. A 'small' club like Leicester play the same style all through the club, and it has done them no harm! Recruitment and retention of promising players is key to progress, but there is a need for an upgrade at all levels in the club. Players, coaches and fitness staff need sorting, as do competent PR and marketing personnel and a clear and truthful channel to communicate with fans. Maybe integrating the lasses team into the heart of the club, too.

Norwich who have a very very successful academy do it very differently. They play 4 4 2 all the way up to U23s. All because attacking players fetch a premium and if you play two up top in youth football you're more likely to produce a striker with good sell on value whilst still potentially producing one to keep. Its their 4th year of doing it now and they have 1 in their first team squad. Going with a philosophy from top to bottom is a wonderful idea but whilst knocking around the lower echlons of the football league we need to cut pur cloth accordingly.

 

[SAFC2403]

So the worst that can happen is that we spend a ton in L1, get punished by the EFL and can't spend anything in the Championship?

That sounds just as bad tbh.

I really don't know how we could circumvent the wage cap at this stage. People have this false idea that billionaires can grease the wheels in other ways, but I'm not really sure if that's going to cut it with us being right at the limit.

We can't sign a great player, pay him a pittance in wages and keep up the plausible deniability. The only realistic option for someone extremely wealthy would seem to be getting rid of the highest earners and eating their contracts so that we can buy a couple of new players in January.

What about buying a club in another country with no wage limits. That club buys the player and loans them to us without us having to pay their wages?
Too obvious?

wonder how the EFL would deal with that?

 

[Billy Batts]

I thought the salary cap was going to get the push, thought it was not legal, the Union were challenging it

All gone quiet on that, unfortunately.

 

[Ashley In!!]

Yes. Madrox bought £9m worth of new Sunderland shares at the time the got the loan. This could only be the loan money being used. And, as this represented cash invested by Madrox in Sunderland, it has to be partial restitution of the parachute payments.

Only once the security over the club assets (the AOL & the SOL) is gone surely?

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

What about buying a club in another country with no wage limits. That club buys the player and loans them to us without us having to pay their wages?
Too obvious?

wonder how the EFL would deal with that?

Brexit will put the kybosh on that, unless British players are involved. And there are limits on how many loan players you can a) have in a squad and b) have from a single club.

 

[SuperGerryHarrison]

I have no major issues with Donald retaining a minority shareholding.

Its fairly common for a selling party to roll some shares when structuring certain transactions (MBO's, etc.) to bridge a gap in valuation. It works both ways, as with the seller (Donald) having an ongoing economic interest he is therefore motivated to ensure transparency in the sale process and accountability post sale. This means that Donald can't ride off into the sunset and leave the buyers with the risk that the whole club is built on sand. It provides the buyers with surety that what their buying is what it says on the tin. Its helping get the deal done.

I wouldn't be supprised if there's a cap in place to restrict his upside, such as a call option on his shares at his magical valuation at some point down the line.

 

[Billy Batts]

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Good article that. Should be read by all the doyles who insist Donald and methven will still be calling the shots.

 

[molthemackem]

Yes I agree, I guess the issue now is how quickly can they put good foundations in place and how much time are they going to get to do it?

It would be pretty easy (salary cap aside) to spend our way out of this league with the apparent wealth they have, much harder and more expensive in the championship, but foundations generally take a bit of time to put in place.

As long as they put Top people in place that do know about football and can handle the New owners ambitions and vision, not these dinosaurs or long player ones we have now in the club, we could be surprised at the speed of change... Time will tell.

 

[sksk3021]

As long as they put Top people in place that do know about football and can handle the New owners ambitions and vision, not these dinosaurs or long player ones we have now in the club, we could be surprised at the speed of change... Time will tell.

I just can't see it being that quick. The takeover hasn't actually happened yet, they don't seem to have the person identified never mind appointed and then there are all of the other positions to fill in recruitment, academy etc.
There is also a bit of an issue in that if we bring in top people, assuming they can attract them in the first place are they likely to have existing knowledge of players for league one, that's even leaving aside the salary cap issue.
It might be that good people can get us promoted this season regardless but not sure it will be as easy as it might seem.

 

[Mboma]

Let's hope there's a statement from the new regime soon.

I can see the sense in Rodwell staying on for a period of time, the new owners can't get everything in place within weeks or months. I want our club to start making well thought out and considered plans from now on, the short term philosophy that has been ingrained into the club over the years/decades has to change if we are to move forward.

 

[The Beautiful Game]

Brexit will put the kybosh on that, unless British players are involved. And there are limits on how many loan players you can a) have in a squad and b) have from a single club.

Not necessarily going to treat eu players like we do non-eu players after brexit. Depends on a number of factors.

 

[Howard the Duck]

depends if Sartori increases his stake to 31% then the three amigos would still have the majority

Referring to them as the three amigos and referring to their cumulative shareholding is a bit disingenuous isn’t it? Spin to suit a specific argument.

Doesn’t most evidence and tittle tattle suggest that there’s no real love lost between Donald and the others and that they don’t really see eye to eye?

 

[oddbod]

This does not sound like a takeover to me more shuffling of deck chairs.

If tobla guy owns 60% it's a takeover ...... Sad to see Don and that odious creature Charlie remaining....they won't keep their mouths shut that's for sure!

 

[sksk3021]

Not necessarily going to treat eu players like we do non-eu players after brexit. Depends on a number of factors.

You just know we will sign a load of class Europeans and won't get work permits for them!

 

[oddbod]

Good article that. Should be read by all the doyles who insist Donald and methven will still be calling the shots.

In that scenario no one person has control.....Santi and Don and could group together and outvote tobla boy......and viscera......... My guess that one person will hold a majority stake.........

 

[The Beautiful Game]

Referring to them as the three amigos and referring to their cumulative shareholding is a bit disingenuous isn’t it? Spin to suit a specific argument.

Doesn’t most evidence and tittle tattle suggest that there’s no real love lost between Donald and the others and that they don’t really see eye to eye?

I wouldn’t have said so. I’d consider them to all be part of the same cabal. Donald and Charlie certainly and sartori is someone he’s tried to get involved previously at Oxford. What’s the evidence I’ve missed that that’s not the case?

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Not necessarily going to treat eu players like we do non-eu players after brexit. Depends on a number of factors.

It won't be exactly the same as now, however. The draft government immigration regulations more or less demand an A-level or equivalent educational standard for an automatic grant of a work permit, and there seem no other obvious exceptional routes for professional footballers. I think we can safely assume that it will be less straightforward than now, and likely to be more difficult as you descend the pyramid.

 

[The Beautiful Game]

It won't be exactly the same as now, however. The draft government immigration regulations more or less demand an A-level or equivalent educational standard for an automatic grant of a work permit, and there seem no other obvious exceptional routes for professional footballers. I think we can safely assume that it will be less straightforward than now, and likely to be more difficult as you descend the pyramid.

Possibly. I can see there being exceptions made though. Same as how there’s the ability to get work permits for non eu players through appeals currently. Obviously that only benefits the big clubs at the moment as you say but I can see there being a big fuss if the likes of the Irish leagues are cut off etc.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Possibly. I can see there being exceptions made though. Same as how there’s the ability to get work permits for non eu players through appeals currently. Obviously that only benefits the big clubs at the moment as you say but I can see there being a big fuss if the likes of the Irish leagues are cut off etc.

There's a separate arrangement for Irish nationals. The free movement of Irish nationals is guaranteed by acts concerning the independence of Eire which predate EU membership, and which remain in force. So Irish players are unaffected.

 

[molthemackem]

I just can't see it being that quick. The takeover hasn't actually happened yet, they don't seem to have the person identified never mind appointed and then there are all of the other positions to fill in recruitment, academy etc.
There is also a bit of an issue in that if we bring in top people, assuming they can attract them in the first place are they likely to have existing knowledge of players for league one, that's even leaving aside the salary cap issue.
It might be that good people can get us promoted this season regardless but not sure it will be as easy as it might seem.

What occurs within 2 weeks of the actual takeover we will know whether promotion is on or off for this season